TWO young men from Flintshire have been found guilty of trying to smuggle cocaine worth nearly £80,000 into Jersey.

David Rhys Hamilton and Dayle David Owens, both 19 and from Holywell, were convicted after a two-day trial at the island’s Royal Court.

They had been arrested at Jersey’s Elizabeth car terminal on May 8 last year after arriving from the UK.

About one kilogram of cocaine, with an estimated Jersey street value of £79,000, was seized from inside the tyre of their car.

Steven Le Marquand, director of law enforcement for Jersey’s Customs and Immigration Service, said: “They were charged under the Customs and Excise Jersey Law with being knowingly concerned in the fraudulent evasion of cocaine.

Richard Pedley, prosecuting, said Hamilton and Owens were remanded in custody on the island and will be sentenced in May.

Mr Le Marquand added: “The case concerned a kilo of cocaine, which is a large amount by Jersey standards.

“Any guilty verdict in a case involving such quantities is a significant result for our service.

“Although we do not know what sentence will be imposed yet, previous cases have proved that sentencing in Jersey for this type of offence is tough and we would expect a significant penalty to be imposed.”